Highland MSP calls for cancellation fund to protect hospitality jobs
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston is calling on the Scottish Government to provide emergency funding to businesses in the hospitality sector which are already suffering major financial losses from renewed Covid restrictions.
The Scottish Hospitality Group has estimated businesses may miss out on approximately £10 million of turnover after Public Health Scotland, backed by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, advised that work Christmas parties should be cancelled.
Mr Halcro Johnston said the lack of consultation and any warning on this from the Scottish Government will leave many businesses with a serious cashflow issue, something the Scottish Government does not have.
The Scottish Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Business said: “The hospitality and tourism sector, which is so important to my region, has suffered one blow after another during the pandemic, and it really can’t be expected to sustain any more losses without support from the Scottish Government.
“Businesses here have suffered from a wave of cancellations since Nicola Sturgeon’s recent announcement about Covid measures, and it was very disappointing that she didn’t follow up by reassuring the businesses affected that they would be offered support.
“We all understand the need to recognise the potential threat posed by the Omicron variant, but that does not mean that we should just ignore the impact on jobs and livelihoods.
“It sometimes feels that the SNP and their Green coalition partners have a blind spot when it comes to the business community and its need to meet its financial obligations to its suppliers and employees.”
